The NFL now will evaluate Houston's proposal and also continue talks with the Los Angeles groups, Aiello said from league headquarters in New York.

Among those hoping to bring a team to Los Angeles is Hollywood dealmaker Michael Ovitz.

"The Ovitz group has worked very hard and spent a great deal of money to bring pro football back to LA. Now it's up to the league to decide whether it wants to play professional football in Los Angeles," Mark Fabiani, a spokesman for Ovitz, said.

Aiello repeated the league's stance that it isn't near a decision on the expansion team.

"It's wide open between the four groups we're dealing with. It's just a matter of someone stepping up with a plan that can get 24 votes from our owners," he said.

The 31 team owners are scheduled to meet early next month in Atlanta. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue recently said a decision on the expansion franchise may be made then.